South Side Farmers Market kicks off ‘Welcoming Scranton’ event on Sept. 11
From a press release:
Following the grand opening of its Carbondale Farmers Market this week, United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania will host the kickoff to its annual “Welcoming Scranton” event at the South Side Farmers Market on Saturday, Sept. 11.
The summer market (526 Cedar Ave., Scranton) will have a variety of special guest vendors participating in an inclusive all-are-welcome event from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Welcoming Scranton celebrates inclusiveness and diversity in the Electric City’s neighborhoods by offering an opportunity for longtime residents to mingle with new immigrant families. This event and longterm effort strives to introduce and engage community members to new cultures.
This year, the week-long celebration includes the South Side Farmers Market kickoff with vendors such as Brooklyn Deli, La Mega Spanish Radio Station, Whittier Elementary, The Wright Center, and lots of family friendly activities. The market’s weekly vendors will also be in attendance so families can enjoy music, food, free books, a branded tote bag filled with agency and city resources, a raffle contest, and local shopping.
Market vendors offer fresh vegetables, cheeses, salsas, plants, art, soaps, meats, eggs, and more. They include Quails R Us Plus, Fullers Overlook Farm, Ten Mile Mushrooms, Mindful Roots Plant Co., Canned Classics, Tiny Homestead Studios, Goddess Moon Inc., and Four Story Hill Farms.
The South Side Farmers Market accepts SNAP/EBT/P-EBT benefits and provides a Double Dollars Produce program for SNAP customers that offers up to $20 a week when they make a SNAP transaction at the market. Customers can also find out ways to earn Market Bucks to spend at the market. More information is available on the market’s Facebook page.
The South Side Farmers Market, which has been running since 2010 and is Scranton’s only year-round farmers market, is open every Saturday from 10 a.m.-noon. It is supported through a grant from the Aetna Foundation and takes safety seriously by following all CDC and city recommendations, including social distancing, capacity limits, wearing masks, and placing hand sanitizing station throughout the market.
With a grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation, United Neighborhood Centers is also opening a second year-round farmers market at its Fallbrook housing community (185 Fallbrook St., Carbondale) on Thursdays starting Sept. 9.
United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assessing and meeting the needs of low-income families, youth, senior citizens, and new immigrants in NEPA.
Since 1923, the agency has embraced its mission to work together with neighbors to provide services and create opportunities which empower individuals and build strong interdependent communities. The agency accomplishes this mission through five programmatic departments (Community Services, Children and Teens, Community Health and Aging, Community Education, and Community Revitalization) and a Housing/Community Development Corporation. Through this diverse programming, UNC uses an innovative wrap-around approach to address the emerging needs of the community it serves.
